Jackal Among Snakes

Argrave, exhausted after a long session, went to explain the exchange that he’d had with Jaray to those that had come with him. Anneliese and all others listened with rapt attention, taking the matter as seriously as it likely was.

“This Jaray would forego the certainty, the impartial justice, of this place?” Galamon questioned suspiciously. “A trap.”

Argrave nodded in agreement. “Could be. But I was thinking it had to do something with our incorporeal friends that need a body to get around. The wiki doesn’t say much about Jaray. He and Erlebnis had dealings, and the man has his hands in a lot of pie… but he’s never been a major player, and he’s certainly not omniscient. Just a wheeler-dealer type, who wants everyone to get along.”

“Heralds are involved?” Melanie questioned, looking about this place nervously.

“It fits. Their silence has been broken only by the machinations they perform in the background.” Orion crossed his arms, an expression of scorn about his face. “They are not worthy of our time. Still, I suspect it prudent to give it to them.”

Melanie scrunched up her face, confused by the oxymoron, while Elenore supported her brother. “If it is the Heralds, all the more reason to go. You could find out what they’re up to.”

“I don’t know.” Argrave ran his hand through his hair. “The man seemed important, somehow. He’s no pawn, that’s for certain.”

“I concur. As far as the eye could see, I saw respect writ on the faces of the gods. I—” Anneliese cut off, turning to look at someone approaching with a frown.

“Jaray sent me,” a lesser god walked up, acting somewhat obsequiously. “He wanted to have that conversation now. He said you’d know what that meant. Ah—and Law has joined him.”

Without waiting for a word of gratitude or any acknowledgement whatsoever, the god snuck away into another corner of Law’s Court. The assembly was over, largely, and thousands of gods were having thousands of conversations about its contents to decide their course of action. Argrave had done far better than he was even expecting, largely due to the glazing Jaray had given him that’d soften the stances of everyone approaching thereafter. But it wasn’t over, because decisions had yet to be made.

“I think we go,” Argrave said decisively, but he did confer with his allies briefly. None seemed to have any protest. “Then, let’s.” He gestured, walking onward with a small bounce on his step. He was eager and nervous. He couldn’t fully pin why that was true.

#####

When Argrave and his coterie opened the door to one of the many chambers in Law’s Court, they found the scene precisely as it had been described. Inside the drawing room, Jaray sat hounded by a cloud of smoke above his head. Opposite him, one of Law’s Justiciars stood behind the couch.

“Ah.” Jaray raised his pipe up. “You’re here, at last. Fortunately, I’ve had the time to say what I needed to Law. I was explaining to him, you see, your relation to Sophia. I’m sure you can better fill in the blanks than I can, as a third party… but I’ve told him much of what he needs to know.” He looked at the Justiciar. “Law… could you…?”

“I’ll let you two speak,” came the deity’s voice, echoing somberly from within his Justiciar. “Argrave, I would speak to you after this.”

Argrave gave him a nod. “Certainly.”

Law exited. Argrave and his party started to enter, but Jaray held up his hand.

“I’d prefer to speak to you and your wife alone, if it’s not too much trouble.” Jaray exhaled smoke. “You could insist against it if it makes you uncomfortable, but it’s just how I’d prefer things.”

Argrave debated it, and Anneliese’s affirming nod made Argrave’s decision for him. “Check on Sophia, please,” he told the others, then entered the room with Anneliese.

They sat across from Jaray on the couch as the others shut the door behind them. Jaray looked more an artist than a politician—unruly dark hair, deep eyes, and handsome tan skin. His clothes were neither too luxurious nor too poor, striking what could be called an amicable balance. He had that same charm to him Argrave had noticed earlier—he couldn’t pin it down, but he could notice it.

“Who the hell are you?” Argrave asked outright, cutting past his own tension. “Why does it seem like you’re running this place?”

“Me? I just like to help people,” Jaray said with an innocent shrug. “I helped Law, so he listened to me. I helped you, so you’re here. And I’ve set it up to where I can help you again, if you’ll let me. I can smooth over any and all tension you might’ve felt with Law.”

“Provided we agree to this meeting,” Anneliese finished for him.

“That’s the short of it. Very smart.” He produced a case. “Would either of you like to partake?” He opened it up, revealing another pipe of similar make to his own. He retrieved a vial from the case filled with dried herbs of some kind.

“We already are. Room’s filled with smoke,” Argrave pointed out, refusing it with a gesture. “Not a terrible smell, though. Lemongrass.”

He offered it silent to the other in the room, but Anneliese similarly refused.

“Your loss.” As he stuffed his pipe with more of whatever he was smoking, he looked between them. “You look like you’re both in a no-nonsense mood, so I’ll be sensible. You’re looking for descendants of the so-called lunar dragon. I can help you out on that front, if you’ll let me.”

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Argrave exhaled in some surprise. “For the low price of what, exactly?”

“Nothing.” Jaray tamped what he’d sprinkled in his pipe, then renewed its flame. “I’m helping you, and I’m helping another. This is a mutually-desired meeting. I’d call it a blind date, if not for the implication, and the fact that the knowledge is unbalanced on one side of the equation.”

Anneliese leaned in. “Do you realize how suspicious all of this is?”

“The convenience of it all?” Jaray smiled. “It’s merely my nature, ma’am.”

“Leading some secret coalition?” Argrave pressed.

“Leading?” Jaray scoffed, taking a deep inhalation of his pipe. “I abhor the thought. Politics aren’t leadership. It’s the glue holding so many people together, or the grease that helps things glide smoothly against one another. It’s giving a favor to get a favor. It’s the alignment of interests, the guidance of personalities and ideologies toward something actionable, and much more than that. It’s…” Jaray paused, thinking as he took another smoke.

“It’s convenience,” Argrave finished, leaning forward and clasping his hands together.

“Just so, Argrave of Vasquer. Just so.” Jaray smiled brilliantly. “I like to be there when people need me. Because when the time comes… maybe, just maybe, they’ll be there for me, too. After all, it’s hard to forsake a convenience once you have it. I’m sure you’d agree that a leader of convenience might not be the best man for the job. Instead, that role should fall to someone like you two. Or your sister, bless her heart. You’ve earned a very nice life for yourself. My compliments.”

Argrave rubbed his palms together, questioning just how dangerous this man was. At every turn, it had been more convenient—more pleasant, even—to just go along with what he suggested. He had already helped immensely, yet he offered more without an obvious condition. It was difficult to tell if this silken bed was born of a silkworm or a spider. He hesitated to lie down for that reason.

Argrave pursed his lips, then asked, “Are there any conditions to this meeting?”

“Only the location,” Jaray answered smoothly.

“If we show up with an army at our back…” Anneliese inferred.

“I can’t speak for what my friend would do. The only reason she requests it outside this place is simple: she’s not one who wants to make her presence known, especially not in Law’s Court. But I’ll be there, in person. I’ll help to make sure it doesn’t become hostile for either side. No one wants conflict between you two except Gerechtigkeit. He’s beyond helping, I’m afraid...” Jaray took a wistful puff.

“How do you know all of this?” Argrave asked. “Does the term Heralds mean anything to you?”

“I just help people, nothing more,” Jaray insisted. “People talk, I listen. They write, I read. They do, I see. I’m glad I was able to help illuminate how much you’ve helped others before a crowd that needed to hear it. Needless to say, I can keep on that path, if it pleases you. And I can help make Law see the necessity of the minor miscommunication you had. It’s best for everyone if you save the bridge before it burns, after all.”

Argrave looked at Anneliese after Jaray so blatantly dodged their question, and he saw the same thing reflected in her skeptical eyes as he felt in his head—this guy’s a patsy for the Heralds, without a doubt. He didn’t think further pressing would yield anything better, so he decided to try another approach. They’d been cooperative thus far, but he wanted to see if there were hidden fangs to this burgeoning relationship.

“What happens if we don’t go along?” Argrave asked. “What happens if we don’t need your help? What if we tell you that we didn’t ask for it, and don’t want it?”

“Well…” Jaray looked away from Argrave. “I’d have to go back to my friend and disappoint her. I’d be a little hurt, if I’m honest. I have nothing but the utmost respect for you and yours. I hope that my dismissal of your companions didn’t cause any bad blood between us. If you’d like, I could apologize to them, individually or as a group. If something else is the problem, please, speak your mind.”

Argrave waited for any signal from Anneliese than he was being deceitful, but none came. Either he could fool her, or he was being earnest. Both outcomes would be equally surprising.

Argrave looked at Anneliese, then leaned in and whispered under cover of a ward. “What do you think?”

“I believe…” She paused, searching for words. “He’s as he seems.”

“I’m not too fond of buying and selling favors,” Argrave stared into her amber eyes. “The favor market is a ruthless one.”

“Whether now or later, we could always say no,” Anneliese said optimistically. “He’s no fighter. You and I alone could defeat him, I’m certain.”

After receiving her advice, Argrave dispelled the ward and leaned away from her. Jaray waited, unoffended by him seeking her counsel under cover of a sound-blocking ward.

“I don’t think you have to disappoint your friend.” Argrave gave a steady nod.

“The meeting is on?” Jaray sought to confirm.

“Provided the location isn’t ridiculous,” Argrave added. “And after I consult with my people.”

“Wonderful.” He offered his hand to shake. “Glad I could help.”

Argrave shook his hand—then next, Anneliese.

“Now—that’s one matter put to rest, but many more remain before we can sleep. Shall I join you in your conversation with Law, or would you prefer I speak to some of the deities that were on the fence about falling under your banner?”

Argrave felt a little overwhelmed. Already, it felt like he’d gained some sort of new subordinate. He was hesitant to prevail upon this man for so much, the god’s own words ringing in his ears.

It’s hard to forsake a convenience once you have it.

#####

Raven looked around the meeting place. It was a high summit, and though the winds were harsh here, the peak formed a partial shield that blocked them out and created an eerie whistle. He looked up above to the moon, where its red brilliance illuminated the place spectacularly.

“Nothing living for miles,” Raven said, speaking to someone distant who could hear him full well. “Nothing trapped. Nothing in the earth for a long way down. Not even a sign anything’s stepped up here, other than mountain goats. It’s a viable location.”

Anneliese’s golden Starsparrow hovered before him.

“Will you come?” He asked.

The bird gave a nod.

“I’ll keep watch.”

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